…Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a bond-servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:5b-7
You perhaps have had occasion to clean out a residence due to a move or a passing. There is frequently a lot of interest and participation, because most of us are intrigued by looking at stuff. There’s often a sale and a dumpster brought in early on. I’ve noticed there can be a lot of sighs and shaking heads from the workers lugging out the stuff.
Do you have a lot of stuff? Comparatively speaking, we in North America are a people of accumulation. You may attest to shuffling boxes from residence to residence, and never even opening them in between moves. Sometimes the accumulation slips into hyper-drive, and tends more toward hoarding. Then, with an intervention and a few phone calls, you might get to be on TV.
Jesus, as we reflect on His first coming to earth in this season of light, was noted for laying down His “stuff” to be on mission here. Yes, He was fully man and yet fully God. He voluntarily set aside attributes and the heavenly abode, to come humbly to this planet to serve, suffer for, and save – us.
As I reflect on my Lord’s coming, I do so with profound awe. Because of His great love, He gave His very life to restore us in fellowship with God that we had destroyed because of our sin. It’s good to note that we remember particularly what Jesus gave; there is never any celebration over what He held on to and would not give.
I find a simple deep lesson in this passage to begin my Advent season in this 61st year of my sojourn here. I too want to be remembered for what I gave, not for what I clung to. No one will ever celebrate over my accumulation one day, but they may celebrate what I gave in Jesus’ Name.
Perhaps that would be a good thing for us all to reach for. Scriptures abound to this point, but my space is up. May the Lord highlight this truth for our lives as we observe life, and as we read from His Holy Word.
Tis the season of giving. Christ gave so we could be free to receive, and then to give, in Jesus’ Name.
Cornerstone Community Church 